May

Action-packed is the adjective I will use to describe May. I honestly believed that it would take a couple more months before April gets unseated as “the” month of 2009. Family-wise, April still holds that honor but on a personal level, May deserves the recognition. And...so much happened in May. That I never expected in a month that is of no importance to me that much.

May’s highlight would be this life-changing opportunity and some unforgettable events were held within the span of 31 days. The month also marked finales of my favorite TV shows, which I shall include in this list just because I consider them huge deals and also, they provided momentarily excitement. Of course, I probably forgot some minor noteworthy days but the special ones will surely be written. Here you go...

May 1, 2009 | “ME” Day

I remember Kristine telling me that for me, everyday is “ME” Day! And I of course I agree because it’s true. But there are certain days that are better than most...like this day. It was Labor Day and I decided to go ahead and avail the holiday option. Had my haircut and treated myself to Mexican lunch (amidst the swine flu scare).

May 3, 2009 | Sleeping Hitman

This day marks the first time I’ve ever watched a boxing bout. I never really appreciated boxing because I feel they’re too violent. Wrestling is different since they’re fake and scripted. Oh yeah, the fight was between Manny Pacquiao against Ricky Hatton, with Pac-Man knocking out Hitman in two rounds. Waste of time, really.

May 4, 2009 | Sbarro

Just one of them dinners after shift with Mamee and Diana. We were really hungry but we still did not finish what Sbarro had to offer. Tsk! Z’s already in the morning shift but she’s “busy” so she’s not in this one.

[Picture to follow]

May 10, 2009 | Mother’s Day

Initially, my plan was to take Mum and Iya out to lunch on some Italian restaurant. Was worried though that lots of restaurants will be full of celebrations. Good thing Mum thought that inviting my Ninong and Ninangs over for lunch is a better idea. It is. It saved me from an expensive bill and it’s always fun to have my cousins over. Happy Mother’s Day!

May 12, 2009 | Star Trek

It’s official. This day made me a Trekkie. Never really much cared for Star Trek because I felt it was too complicated as it had too many series and characters. But the latest movie, oh wow! One just has to watch it to understand. I can honestly say that Star Trek will be “the” movie of 2009. Only Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen stands a chance against the awesome Spock!

May 13, 2009 | Mangan

Yet another after shift dinner, this time though, Z is present. Starbucks Coffee after because we had coupons. Hooray for coupons.

May 13, 2009 | Kodak Easy Share C913

Okay. This is totally unexpected. Sure I wanted a new camera but I never thought of getting one. I’ve never hidden my trait of being a caveman when it comes to technology, and if my current gadget is working, why replace it? But I will never refuse a free treat! I may not know the special features or how awesome my new toy is but it takes pretty shots. Thank you to my Ninang for this magnificent gift! Woohoo!

May 15, 2009 | Special-ish

A general meeting was called by the boss to announce the latest happenings in our team. We welcomed two new additions, top performers were honored (ehem, ehem) and they announced newly promoted “Specialists” (just a fancier word for Editors). Two years and eight months and four IJAFs later, finally, overlooked no more! It would have been better though if I get to share this honor with two special individuals.

May 15, 2009 | Angels & Demons

Friday Night is Movie Night. The movie gave me a new dream job. Symbologist or physicist, you might say. I was thinking, more on the lines of being the Holy See or at least, the Camerlengo. LOL! Very cool movie. Not much historical references and some major points from the novel were left out but no one could have done it better. Action-packed and fast-paced for a controversial flick is nothing short of a miracle.

May 17, 2009 | Lola Internment and Visiting Tits’ Resting Place

Caloocan...is far but we have relatives living there and so we have obligation to visit them once in a while, especially, when one of them dies. Lola is with the Lord now and is guaranteed everlasting happiness, I’m sure. We also had the chance to visit Tits’ ashes in Our Lady of Grace Columbarium.

May 21, 2009 | New American Idol

I would not have requested for my schedule to be changed on this day had I known the conclusion of American Idol’s eighth season would be the most disappointing and shocking moment of Idol history...ever! Kris Allen pulled a major upset against the hyped and sure bet Adam Lambert. How he did that, people will never really understand. Not to take anything away from Kris, but even he was expecting and hoping for Adam to take home top honors. Do not crucify the guy. It was the voters who are to blame! Oh, well...

May 21, 2009 | RoNyce

An after shift session with my new favorite couple: Ronn and Nyce. Yes, you heard it right. After almost three years, our favorite supposedly platonic couple suddenly became not-so-platonic anymore. This may come as a shock to most people, even I had an OMFG moment when it was confirmed, but we were kinda expecting this will happen...just not this soon, right? Nevertheless, we’re all rooting for you two! Hihihi!

May 22, 2009 | Renee’s Lola’s Internment and Mendiola Tour

Most of the time, Renee’s the most annoying friend we have. But I also have the utmost respect for this bozo! Amidst all the trials he is going through, he still manages to have that sunny disposition and continuously entertain/annoy everyone with his antics. That’s why it is just proper that we pay our respects to his Lola Maria. Without her, we wouldn’t have met this idiot! Hehehe. And it just so happens that the wake took place near Mendiola, one of my favorite places ever. Together with Diana, we toured Rai around the consortium and even ate at one of our hangouts during our college days. Missed my beloved school!

May 24, 2009 | Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian

The first movie was a success, and it will stay that way. Don’t get me wrong, the sequel is still worth the ticket price and I still say you should watch it. It introduced new characters and had much more historical reference than the former. Still, I very much enjoyed my movie experience with the first one that I probably expected too much for its sequel. One good thing I got from this: I now appreciate Amy Adams. Such an awesome red-haired woman!

May 29, 2009 | Binsent’s Homecoming at Jay-J’s, Ortigas

What’s not to love about this night? I can think of one thing but I’m not letting that spoil this wonderful session with the Mean Boys. Vinchy’s officially stationed in the metro again, so he decided to round us up to celebrate. Turn out was unexpected as lots of my college friends made it on such short notice. Felt like we are really getting old as Teri’s already in the second trimester of her pregnancy. But what really surprised us that Boyds’ new girlfriend (whose name still eludes me) is also in her second trimester and a month ahead of Teri. Okay! Shocking news it was. Long story, but it still is actually. Again, what’s not to love? There were seven of us, Mean Boys, but all-in-all we were 13. Gets?

May 30, 2009 | Bowling and T.G.I.Fridays’

A month would not be a success without an event with my beloved teammates. It’s been a while since the last time we participated in any sporting event as a team and we felt that we needed to go bowling immediately, so we did, with Diana taking Kads’ spot. Had a lousy game perhaps due to my gimik the night before, thus, giving Anthony top honors. Boo! As promised, I would bring the team to T.G.I.Fridays’ to celebrate my being special, but not to pay the whole thing. We all know the similarities of pickpockets and Fridays’: they leave your wallets empty. But we did have fun and I could not think of a better way to end May.

Wow. It’s still about May, right? I feel like I’m writing about December, being lengthy and all. But I am not complaining and I am definitely thankful for it.

Shoutout of Happy Birthdays to: Johann, T.Joey, Camille G., L.Diegs, U.Mon, Nathan, T.Josette, Butch, Karen M., N.Rey, Shaila, and Lolo Angel +

Season finales were one of the main themes of this month. My favorite shows ended and people are to wait for months to know what happens for those who chose to end their seasons with cliffhangers. Supernatural, Lost, Heroes, Chuck and Gossip Girl. Prison Break had the best ending from all of them, probably the best finale since F.R.I.E.N.D.S ended five years ago. I would have included it in the list but I have already shared my two-cents worth and because it deserves a separate entry.

Okay. I just have to mention this. This was taken from the Mean Boys’ session. Like I said, there were seven of us but our total headcount were 13. Still don’t see my point? It means everyone had plus ones and I was the only single bastard in that group! A head’s up would be nice, Vince! Big deal! Yeah, I know. I should not be bitchin about it, but one can’t help but feel something when placed into those kinds of situations. Solution: might not go out with kada anytime soon! LOL! What? You think be with someone? Please!

To conclude my April entry, I was thinking twice about May. I honestly thought it wouldn’t deliver. Hell, it more than delivered! Maybe I should be discourage myself with June too. But, June holds the annual and most social party event that I am invited to. The kind of event that one needs new threads and probably another haircut: Paulooza 2009! Can’t freaking wait! Thank you, May! (--,)

High School Confidential

Coffee nightouts with Biboy may probably be bad for my disposition. Nah, of course not. It’s just that, sure it brings back all the good memories, but it kinda makes me think what the hell I’ve been doing in that span of six years after graduating from high school.

Our batch was famous for notoriety. The school administration was literally jumping for joy and shouting out praises when our batch finally left the halls of our beloved den. Nevertheless, I am very proud of that batch. Sure, we were known to be troublemakers and lower batches are probably intimidated from us--but I would classify our transgressions as “organized crime.” Hahaha. Yes we wreaked havoc but with definite finesse and sophistication, and mind you, no one got totally hurt. Our teachers never dreaded teaching our batch, au contraire, they have fun trying to control us. Pointless, really.

It’s the second time this month last night that me and Biboy met up for late night coffee. And like typical high school kada get-togethers, exchange of stories doesn’t really change. Topics of our conversations are basically the same but we never get tired of hearing of it. We still laugh at that one particular instance and we still remember how we felt on that disappointing soiree. Loads of stories, actually, and my role in the kada was to document and remember everything.

Now, to my point. All this talking made me curious as to what my batch mates are now up to. So, through the wonders of 20th century technology, Friendster actually, I looked up old friends and classmates. Good thing we have our own batch account so checking up on them wasn’t really that hard. And the common denominator? 90 percent of them are “in a relationship.” You know, their primary photos are images of them with their respective significant other in their most sweetest and mushiest posing they could muster. Good, huh? Yes, of course. I am very happy that they are happy. The thing that kinda bummed me is that those kids that we made fun of back then are getting seriously “lucky.” Karma, you might say, whilst I say it’s my pihikan-ess that explains why my primary photo is a solo one. Again, not complaining; just bummed. And I found out that at least 15 of my batch mates are now settled down and got kids of their own. Now, that’s worth mentioning and definitely not something to be envious about. Haha!

Still believe that get-togethers are a mistake? Heck no! I look forward for more. And the next time, I hope the whole gang’s present. And this idea might become a reality sooner than they think. There’s another Star Wars movie that’s about to be shown next month and we have this tradition and pact that we need to honor! Yay! (--,)

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School's Back

June reminds me of lots of things, but only three of them stands out: Independence Day (which was foolishly moved three days before), hump month (meaning it’s the middle of the year and the Holidays’ just around the corner), and school’s back.

Back-to-school = traffic. Being the lucky guy I am, my route going to the office passes by this known technical school in Makati. My shift starts around noontime and we all know the monstrosities of traffic come lunch hour. Dismissal time of those in the primary level falls around that time and what commuters go through upon passing by that school is hell, literally. Your institution is quite well-known and one of the best (and your Italian ristorante is heaven), is it too much trouble to organize your parking schemes? The heaps of school services I can stomach, but do you really need three cars to pick up just one silly bastard? (Yeah, known fact, I hate kids!) I’ve been meaning to write about this a couple of months back but since it was summer, I’ve decided to take it easy.

One good thing about back-to-school = froshies! Fresh, fresh, fresh, if you catch my drift! [Evil Laugh] Creepy as it may sound, but it brings back memories. [Sigh] How I miss school. Catching up with your idiot barkada after two months of no school, all fun. Planning for the hell that you will go through for the coming school year. Bragging about things that you supposedly did during the summer, when in fact you were just home with your supply of bootleg DVDs and going online 24/7. I wish life could be that simple. Then again, being in the real world definitely has its perks!

The Bedan Watcher

Never really am a fan of advocacies and I’m not about to start now. I just find this so-called “Bedan Blogger” to be interesting. I’m pretty sure he ain’t popular with the Bedan Admin with his “Bedan Conspiracies” and what he writes and his outlook on the current “changes” and “purge” that is happening in our beloved Den nowadays. And he has every right to voice out his opinions through blogs and entries. But knowing the monks that run our school, the sword is mightier than the keyboard on this instance.

I neither support you nor diss you off. But from one blogger to another, I respect what you’re doing. As long as you get your facts right and you’re not trying to besmear our beloved heritage and rich traditions. And I do hope you’re a “pure-blooded” Bedan to add some credibility.

To my fellow Bedans, you might find this an interesting read. Again, I’m not about to support this guy, but it’s always better to know both sides of the story. Click the picture above.

I'm a Pure-Blooded Bedan

* Bedista ka ba?
- Pureblood Bedan (GS,HS,College)

* Anong year and course mo?
- College of Arts & Sciences Degree Holder ata ako..wahahaha

* San ka madalas tumambay?
- Sa covered court during my younger years before they replaced it with a gym

* Snack bar o Dom?
- We simply call it "Cafeteria" back then

* Alam mo ba kung bakit pogi lane ang tawag sa pogi lane?
- To entice passerbys.."Pogi, burger ka dyan!!"

* Close ba kayo ni Mang Roger?
- Sino ba hindi ka-close ni Mang Roge =)

* Nanonood ka ba palagi ng NCAA kahit hindi required?
- Ever since HS..sweet di ba? Back to back!

* Gwapo ba si Pong Escobal?
- Hihihi. .di hamak naman..

* Eh si Sam Ekwe?
- Ang galing magbasketball ni Sam Ekwe!

* Sa tingin mo, “skwater” ba talaga ang Letran?
- Of course not..they gave a good fight last finals..itigil na natin yung asaran..sino mas "squatter" kapag pumapatol?

* Ano dapat “Beda” o “San Beda”?
- Don't even get me started on this one..it's "SAN BEDA" not Beda! X-(

* Kung bibigyan ka ng 1.0 sa major mo pero gagayahin mo ang hairstyle ni menor, payag ka?
- Ilang majors? bat hindi? it'll grow back, right?

* May kaaway ka ba sa San Beda?
- Petty fights and teasing..nothing serious!

* All boys o Co-Ed?
- Not like we can do nythn about it..but I miss traditional San Beda

* Tingin mo bakla si Matitu? Bakla ba?
- Hahahaha! Itim ba uwak?

* Bakit lahat ng may laptop nasa St. Maurs?
- Ngaun na lang nauso yan..nuong araw Magic cards lang okay na ang St. Maurs

* Kaya mo ba i-translate ang Indian yell sa Tagalog / English?
- Hindi..basta unique yun and I'm proud of it..

* Kung hindi ka Bedista, ano ka?
- Errr..honestly..euggghh..LSGH!

* Ano ang sigaw ng Bedista?
- For San Beda, our country, and God!

San Beda Competes in SIFE World Cup '07

Back in my college days, I was approached by a blockmate and asked if I was interested in joining this organization that he just started. Being the nonchalant guy that I am, surprisingly, I said yes. Being in my senior year, I need to try out something different at least before leaving the halls of my beloved Den. That organization is S.I.F.E. or Students in Free Enterprise. It’s a non-profit type of organization that networks business students from around the world, to be trained as future leaders with a promise of making the world a better place to live in. Seriously! I was in over my head. I was actually a part of something, for a cause. I feel like a hero, out to save the world. Or, it was just a convenient way of meeting new people, (which “partially” turned out to be, at first). Their cause is obviously, so not me. But then again, this a good chance for someone like me to make a difference, or at least get good credentials to beef up my resume.

Of course, that was not the case. As it turns out, I actually learned something from it, and unexpectedly enjoyed the cause. Proud of being a pioneer officer of the organization, we did our best to make our school proud. Together with some juniors, namely Aika, Jikkie, Rona, Cathz, with Ryan as our president, it was an all-star roster. See, S.I.F.E. hosts a competition for all its members around the world. Different schools from six continents compete in their own respective Nationals, and ultimately, for the S.I.F.E. World Cup. Sounds sporty, but it’s really not. Students are to look for a local area that needs to be developed and improved, with the help of their school and corporate sponsors. Sound simple, but again, it’s really not. The preparation for the competition, the training for the presenters, all the paperwork needed, begging for big-shot people to sponsor our cause, sleepless nights, are just some of the things that we considered and did back then. The motivation: the one who wins the Nationals gets to compete with international schools in an “international venue.” Now wouldn’t you work hard for that? Especially after finding out that that year, the S.I.F.E. World Cup will take place in France . If that is not motivation for you, then I don’t know what is.

The first year of S.I.F.E. as an organization in San Beda, we actually cleaned out the Nationals but lost to some unknown school from the South. Our project then involves a fishing village in Talim, Rizal. Using our entrepreneurship skills, we taught the villagers simple business ideas and ventures that they can use and do for means of living. It was my first and last chance for that World Cup experience as I was graduating that year. No matter, we left the organization in good hands, as two years after; San Beda College S.I.F.E. Team did our country proud.

The article below from Inquirer.net relates the story of SBC-SIFE 2007.

After winning the recent SIFE National Exposition, the San Beda College Students in Free Enterprise (SBC-SIFE) will represent the Philippines in the SIFE International Word Cup Exposition (visit www.sife.org), to be held at the Hilton Hotel in New York, USA on Oct. 9-13, 2007.

SIFE is a global organization of schools promoting student leadership and community self reliance by teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy and independence.

The group presented their program on promoting self-reliance and community development among residents of Pagsanjan, Laguna, through the promotion of entrepreneurship and financial literacy, environmental awareness and health. The project was implemented in cooperation with the local government of Pagsanjan headed by Mayor Jeorge E.R. Ejercito Estregan.

57 SIFE member schools nationwide participated in the exposition. The elimination round was held at the San Beda College Campus on July 10, 2007. Other finalists were the Divine Word College of Calapan, Mindoro; Mindanao State University, General Santos; and the Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic College.

The San Beda College SIFE presenting team is composed of the following students: Jikkie Lee, team captain; Patricia Salang, Irish Soria, Joshua Dino and Kester Sarmiento. The team was coached by Dr. James Loreto Piscos, SIFE adviser and assisted by the following faculty members: Albert C. Oasan, Malu Jimenez and Lester Toribio as technical advisers.

The Team will be headed by SIFE Philippines CEO Dr. Bobby Galindez and former SIFE President Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque, also representing San Beda as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

It's pretty obvious that we left SBC-SIFE in good hands considering the glory they brought not just for the Den, but for the whole country as well. Being in that organization was one of the most memorable things in Tim’s life. Exposure to the real world, to the people that needed help and saving, met lasting friends, and developed my skills. Regrets? None, as I don’t believe in regrets. But I sure would like to be in that team who stayed in Hilton and a taste of 10 days of the Western life. Hehehe.

Images taken from FilAmImage…

It's Been a Year since I Graduated!!!

"Herald the Bedans coming..."

Today marks the First-year anniversary of me having a degree and joining the professional world. In short, it's been a year since I graduated college. Left the old school halls, the crazy professors, the chaotic Mendiola, and more importantly, left "The Den."

Watching Ron's graduation last Friday really made me think what I have been doing with my life over the past year: Nothing! Well, not really nothing, but I feel like I'm wasting my degree and education. I know I have to find something that will make use of my expertise. (Yeah, right! Expertise..haha!) Anyway, like I said while at Ron's graduation, the moment I saw the new graduating batch, grazin' St. Maurs' in our custom, unique Red Togas, taking pictures with batchmates--it hit me! One year had passed. There's already a new batch of fresh graduates that the corporate world will prioritize in hiring. Arrgghh..I keep reverting to the whole "professional world." I am writing this as a tribute to that "graduation feeling." My apologies.

This year's graduation was quite speedier that ours, last year. Looking from the stands, I was one of those kids last year. Face full of hopes and their minds, naive. Very excited to embark on new challenges the corporate world offers. True, I felt and believed that. BUT, nothing beats being in school.

This 2007 San Beda College Graduation rites was a momentous one. This marks the graduation of the first female batch of my beloved institution. OLD SCHOOL San Beda is no more. After struggling with the reality of the Bedan culture dying and perishing with the entry of these ladies, watching them march and accumulate numerous awards, you really get that sense of proudness. I may not be a part of that batch, but Ron is. The proud boyfriend I am when she went up the stage, with her parents, to receive her Academic Distinction award and other extra-curricular activity awards. Clicking here and there. How come I didn't get a single Academic award during my time is another story. And why she gathered ridiculous amount of glory and how smart she is, is for another blog! Hehehe.. Hey, I did get to go up the stage last year with Mom and Dad to receive a gold medal. A Loyalty Award. For being a pure-blooded Bedan through and through. Not a lot of students have the privilege to say that they are pure-breeds.

Pure-breeds. After the first Lionesses marched out from the Den, that word is just a mere memory of the glorious days of our school. But am I complaining? NO. Gone are the days where I raised hell on campus just because they won't allow us to sport our hair long and wear our pants tattered. My personal vendetta against the then admin are just chapters in my history books. The first female batch, hate them or love them, did my school proud.

Now, as I've said, I feel old because of the new batch of graduates. Then again, that's part of life. Sure I miss my MEAN BOYS and how we painted the school RED!! But there're a lot of things to look forward to. Especially now that Ron's gonna start her professional career.

What's important now is I make my alma mater proud!

"For San Beda, our country, and God!!!"

Go San Beda Fight!!! Go San Beda Fight!!!
--> Obviously, an April post

School Orgs, Senior Year & Busyness

Being busy is something that I needed to feel. I have changed for the past year and the new me, I think is much, much better than the old me. I mean, I am more school-oriented nowadays and more friendly than I was before; and my friends can attest to that. You see, your first impression of me will probably be "suplado," which I don’t deny. Hey, you just gotta know me to know me..nywey back to busyness..first semester is almost over and what a semester it is..well 4 weeks and countin..and ts my last semester in school..imagine that! finally leaving the den..well hopefully..only a certain bitch stands in my way of marching in march..why the busyness?! because i started participating in school activities and active in school organizations..i thank Ryan Skalaw for givin me a position in his org..dun wory dude..ts gonna be interestin..hehe!! in this org..am meeting people..not just people but friends..and this friends are a breath of fresh air..after what happened to my kada..we havent exactly did nythn that will prove a point in school..but were workin on it..promise members and school community..we will make a difference..we have to!! hahaha..ts kinda scary since the current year being my senior year in college..almost over..almost done! and its true..ts scary to graduate! the responsibilities will be serious and there wont be dean's listers to back you up..that i can manage..since i am great..hehe..but havin to wake up every day and not go to Mendiola will be a very weird feeling for me..for 15 years i've been doin that..and in a couple of months my only view of Mendiola is if some idiots tries and tries to ruin our country with their protestings and rallies..most of all i will miss the people inside the den! we were actually talking about what would everyone feel after taking our final exam in the second semester, the last subject exam and signing our exam release form..for the last time..it would be very emotional..recently just had our retreat and the team building session was quite emotional..no one cried..but you can feel the sense of togetherness and brotherhood of everyone..that is why ts scary to graduate..i am rily rily gonna miss my ABE!! that is why i keep myself busy in school today and spend much time with the boys..so to my new friends..lower years and batchmates..ThnX for making the first half of my senior year..fun and memorable..hope that til the end..the fun will never stop!! oh yeah..3rd street na!!!

--> Posted way back in September 2005